CHULA VISTA  The Bonita Vista High softball team defeated visiting Eastlake 12-1 on Thursday afternoon, clinching at least a portion of the Mesa League championship for the eighth consecutive year.

The third-ranked Barons (15-5, 7-1) slugged three home runs for their second straight win over Eastlake (14-8, 3-3) after beating the Titans 20-4 on Tuesday.

Should Eastlake defeat Otay Ranch once in two games next week, Bonita Vista will be outright league champion.

After going down 1-0 in the first inning, the Barons scored the game’s final 12 runs.

Freshman Lani Graft hit a three-run home run in the third inning, and sophomore Aaliyah Jordan hit a two-run homer in the fourth.

Senior Alex Vargas hit a two-run homer in the third inning and drove in three runs, capping a week in which she went 3-for-8 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

The Ohio State-bound senior also earned the win, pitching all five innings of a game shortened by the mercy rule. Vargas allowed five hits, walked three and struck out one for her second win of the week.

“She’s really stepped up and kind of put the team on her shoulders,” Bonita Vista coach John Carlson said.

Vargas’ success in the pitching circle has been a pleasant surprise considering she hadn’t been the No. 1 starter until this season and hadn’t pitched in a year and a half due to injury.

“At first I was a little scared and nervous because I hadn’t pitched in such a long time,” Vargas said.

The nerves wore off quickly. Vargas is now 8-2 with a 2.07 ERA to go along with her six home runs and 23 RBIs at the plate.

“There are many players out there doing well,” Carlson said. “But she’s really carrying us in a lot of different ways.”